Drill & Blast Technician - Kolomela at Anglo American

Job Description:
As our Drill & Blast Techniciansome of your responsibilities will include but not limited to:

• Safety, Health, and Environment
• Consistently apply Safety and Health principles in all team interactions and take personal responsibility for the safety of self and others to ensure zero harm and the elimination of fatalities.
• Function as a role model and support a workplace culture where safety and health for the site are paramount.
• Support an environment for team members to challenge and act on unsafe behaviours without repercussions.
• Assist teams on the bench to review SLAMs and JRA to ensure all employees are aware of the hazards in the working environment.
• Play an active role in Misfire management and other Critical Control Monitoring
• Active participation in SLAMs, HPHs, relevant Risk Assessments and close-out of Safety Actions.
• Performance and Delivery
• Planning and Design:
• Design drill patterns for optimal blasting outcomes.
• Scrutinize and approve blast block designs to ensure safety and compliance.
• Monitor drilling operations to verify alignment with design specifications, including traffic management compliance.
• Monitor charging operations to ensure on-bench practices are adhered to and compliance to design
• Validate seismograph data to ensure optimal recording data for investigations and 3rd party assessment
• Review timing designs of blasts and ensure end-users are upskilled in the fault finding process on-bench
• Technical field work, incl. reactive ground, rock response, lacing of blast holes, borehole calipering, et al.
• Training and Certification:
• Train and prepare individuals for blasting certification.
• Develop action plans for candidates to achieve certification requirements.
• Assist with technical fault finding during timing and firing operations.
• Continuous Improvement:
• The Work: Key Outputs and Accountabilities
• Share knowledge on blasting practices and recommend proactive measures for compliance.
• Research and analyse novel blasting technologies for potential adoption.
• Provide technical support to ensure compliance with blasting standards.
• Enhance drill patterns and sequences for improved accuracy and efficiency.
• Optimize drilling equipment for maximum productivity and reduced downtime.
• Implement the latest drilling technologies to improve penetration rate.
• Work closely with explosives suppliers to optimize product performance and provide quality recons to ensure continuous A&I process.
• Budget Management:
• Provide input on expenditure within the approved budget for effective cost control.
• Cost validation on consumables and norms; i.e. bits, rods, accessories, bulk explosives, et al.
• Validation and Documentation:
• Validate drilling and charging operations to ensure adherence to design specifications.
• Support D&B Engineer with documentation and technical assistance in-field; as well as weekly D&B Reconciliation.
• Software Execution and Data Accuracy:
• Execute BlastMaster for blast design, optimisation, and scheduling.
• Ensure the accuracy of data in BlastLogik for performance tracking and analysis.
• Ensure data accuracy of the HP GPS system on Drills; ensuring socket data is accurate.
• This role is in the Technical & Integrated Planning department on a band 7.9 level reporting to the Section Manager Drill & Blast Technical

Qualifications:

• Higher Certificate
• Advanced National Diploma / Certificate 5
• NATED N4/N6 Certificate
• Mining Degree
• Explosives Management
• Opencast Blasting Ticket
• SA Drivers License
• Hard Rock Mining

Technical Knowledge

• Operational experience as a supervisor or Mine Overseer in Blasting or Drilling logistics.
• 3-4 years’ experience in Blasting and Drilling Operations; with preference to Surface / Open Pit Mining
• Explosives engineering / Explosives Handling
• Autonomous drilling / HP GPS Drilling systems